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‘Thank you, Christine, for visiting Canada and for reminding us that Pierre Poilievre and [the] CPC are deeply compromised by the same people who own Justin Trudeau,’ reacted prominent anti-lockdown Ontario doctor Patrick Phillips.
(LifeSiteNews) — Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leader Pierre Poilievre has come under immense fire after he referred to the political views of pro-Freedom Convoy Member of European Parliament Christine Anderson as “vile.”
Anderson, of Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, has been in Canada for the last week meeting with various people related to the Freedom Convoy, including one of the movement’s leaders, Tamara Lich.
Anderson is known for being very outspoken against COVID mandates, government overreach, and liberal immigration policies, and came to prominence in Canada last year after blasting Trudeau over his treatment of the anti-mandate Freedom Convoy protesters.
Last Tuesday, photos emerged online of Anderson meeting with CPC MPs Leslyn Lewis, Colin Carrie, and Dean Allison. After the photographs made the rounds online, Poilievre issued a statement on Friday, saying “Anderson’s views are vile and have no place in our politics.”
“The MPs were not aware of this visiting member of the European Parliament’s opinions, and they regret meeting with her,” continued Poilievre.
“Frankly, it would be better if Anderson never visited Canada in the first place. She and her racist, hateful views are not welcome here,” he added.
On Friday, Anderson defended herself, telling True North that at no point did she express “hateful and racist views as he [Poilievre] puts it.”
“No one gets to define me… not even Mr. Poilievre. You do not get to define me. I know what I stand for. I know what I fight for,” she said, adding “And I know that I will never cater to any democratic leader or any elected government that does not act in the best interest of the people.”
Members of the AfD party advocate for less immigration and have been critical of the impact Islam has had on Europe, notably through mass migration.
Anderson herself has also been critical of extreme forms of Islam prevalent in countries like Afghanistan, accusing them of mistreating women.
Later on Friday, CPC MPs released a statement via Carrie’s Twitter account in which they said they do not “endorse” Anderson’s views.